My friend is 16 and is a devout christian. He appears to be reading the bible and seems to be into it. Whenever we start talking about religion in the group, and the lack of it (atheism) he seems to get very uncomfortable. He says "I don't know what i'd do without religion". I can see how this is a conclusion for him as he has had a hard life and his parents appear to be not so great. He skips school often and almost failed all his classes by default because of all the days he has missed.
Now I know his dependance on religion isn't good, and I can't seem to be able to phrase it properly to him without me sounding condenscending and a total ass. I can't say to him that his idea is a fantasy world like that of a good trip, and that he isn't seeing reality.
Since facepunch seems to be filled with atheists, I would like to hear how you would phrase it, and how you would approach his deconversion.
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Not a Question Thread" - Gurant))[/highlight]
Ugh, tell him about the father who prayed to god and his daughter died.
Tell him about stem cells.
Tell him about the cloned sheep.
Only if he is an up-in-your face asshole, or turning into a zombie about it.
Tell him everything Dual Elites said.
Tell him about Facepunch.
I'm turning into an atheist, slowly but surely. But if you want me opinion, let him believe in what he believes in. It's not your priority to change that. You can't change someone's religion because of what you think. Be happy he's found religion, better than him going out and stealing cars or skipping MORE school; doing things he's not supposed to etc etc. Sounds like a silly idea to change someone's religion because you don't like it.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDHJ4ztnldQ[/media]
Make him watch this
[I]THEN[/I] see what he thinks about Christianity.
Why are you changing his religion? It's his choice to believe in god, just like it's your choice to not believe in god.
I really think you shouldn't try to change his faith. Not only will it have a seriously bad effect on him, you'll look like a complete twat.
You guys aren't seeing it. I have plenty of arguments against religion, that is not my problem. My problem is that if he deconverts he will be depressed. He is dependant on religion because religion has given him the hope that something is better after life, and that someone is watching his back in life.
Then let him delude himself in it.
[QUOTE=Oecleus;16460193]You guys aren't seeing it. I have plenty of arguments against religion, that is not my problem. My problem is that if he deconverts he will be depressed. He is dependant on religion because religion has given him the hope that something is better after life, and that someone is watching his back in life.[/QUOTE]
Then let him believe in that instead of you looking like a complete dick by shooting him down.
[QUOTE=Oecleus;16460193]You guys aren't seeing it. I have plenty of arguments against religion, that is not my problem. My problem is that if he deconverts he will be depressed. He is dependant on religion because religion has given him the hope that something is better after life, and that someone is watching his back in life.[/QUOTE]
Thats kinda why i got into religion. Except i did it to make myself a better person.
Tell him that you're concerned that he is taking it way too seriously, and tell him that he shouldn't rely on god watching his back for him. Because thats not the way it works.
I'm surpised facepunch is fine with someone being highly deluded and everybody just saying "let him be in a fantasy world"
That's like someone taking acid to trip and saying "well he's more happier on acid"
[QUOTE=Oecleus;16460193]You guys aren't seeing it. I have plenty of arguments against religion, that is not my problem. My problem is that if he deconverts he will be depressed. He is dependant on religion because religion has given him the hope that something is better after life, and that someone is watching his back in life.[/QUOTE]
So what? Let him be "dependent" on it, that could be the only thing he has going for him in life. Who cares if it's not real?
[editline]01:43PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Oecleus;16460241]I'm surpised facepunch is fine with someone being highly deluded and everybody just saying "let him be in a fantasy world"
That's like someone taking acid to trip and saying "well he's more happier on acid"[/QUOTE]
Yeah, what's your point?
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